PakarBedahAnda or Your-General-Surgeon is my blog in which I highlight common surgical problems faced by Malaysians. In the last 20 years of my practice, many of my patients presented with advanced diseases in which treatments were more complicated, and if they were cancers then the prognosis were poor. This is also my personal 'fight' against late presentation of surgical diseases particularly cancers.

Monday, August 10, 2009

CANCER SURVIVOR - A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Last week, a 56 year old lady presented with lethargy and poor appetite. Her hemoglobin was 8.6 gm/dL and her Liver Function Test showed low albumin/protein. CT-scan of the abdomen revealed multiple liver metastases (cancers spread to the liver). She was a very 'strong' lady; despites her incurable cancer, she smiled and told me her story which I personally knew part of it.

.

In July. 2007, she came to my clinic with a 1-cm lump in her left breast. Ultrasound and a mammogram done showed the lesion was most likely a cancer. I explained to her what a cancer means and adviced her to have a biopsy and the subsequent treatments including surgery. Unfortunately she disappeared after that. Apparently the lump rapidly increased in size till it started to ulcerate in Feb. 2008. On the coersion of her children, she agreed for a mastectomy which was done in a hospital in KL. Again she refused adjuvant treatments. Now, she comes with the cancer spreading to her liver and is killing her slowly..... yet she is smiling happily.

.

Her story: In early 2007, she and her husband were planning to establish a 'tahfiz school'. Unfortunately he passed away leaving her with hundreds of thousand in 'infaq' or donated money. When she was told to have the breast cancer, she 'knew' that she would soon follow her husband. So she decided 'not to waste' whatever short time she had, for the cancer treatment. She started to work on the 'tahfiz' until it was completed and started to enrolled local girls. Now, the tahfiz school is running well. And she is now ready to join her husband ! Beliau bersyukur kerana Allah telah memanjangkan hayat beliau sehinggalah siapnya sekolah tahfiz beliau. Moga-moga Allah mengangkat beliau sebaris para syuhadaNya - Amin.

.

In Malaysia, there are now many organisations either established by the government or the NGOs to help cancer patients and cancer survivors. Cancer survivor is a term used for a person who had cancer and survives the disease for five years or more. Unfortunately, I believe not many Malaysians know about these organisations. Hence, once a person is diagnosed of having a cancer, he or she feels hopeless. They turn to all sorts of people, conmen and some even end their life prematurely. When I was a Medical Officer in Penang (1986-7), Penang bridge was a favourite place for some of the desperate patients to find a shortcut to 'heaven' (saya rasa neraka).

.

In Kota Bharu, there is a volunteer organisation called KAWAN which give supports and advices (and probably where you can buy a breast prosthesis - after mastectomy). I was invited to participate in one of their workshop once - where a man said to his wife (a nurse who had a mastectomy for left breast cancer) ' I love you with or without your breast!'

.

As a muslim, I believe that God determines everything, and He says He does so with reasons. It is up to us to find the reasons. If we wants to be cured of a cancer, we find the reasons. And as a scientist, I believe a proper medical treatment is the reason. Off course, in the end He determines whether we are cured or not. It is His prerogative.

.

When a patient comes to me with breast cancer, I always tell them about 'living examples'. And this is my favourite living example. Australian singer, Kylie Minogue.

.

.

Diagnosed to have a 1 cm breast cancer many years ago. Underwent a local excision, followed by a course of radiotherapy and a regime on chemotherapy. Now cured and kicking well; back to her singing stages.

.

On the other hand; we have our 'equivalence', an actress who hid her breast cancer till it fungated and smelly. Now begging for mercy; asking donations for her chemotherapy.

.

God is Great; He gives to whoever strives for His Mercy. He helps those who help themselves !

.

As for the lady in my story; deep down in my heart, I believe if she had decided to receive a proper treatment when she came with a centimetre lesion, she might not only able seeing her tahfiz kicked off, but be with it till many years to come. Wallahu 'aklam

Followers

About Me

I am a general surgeon practising in a private hospital in Kota Bharu. Previously I was a senior lecturer in the Department of Surgery, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian Kelantan. My interest is in colorectal diseases especially colorectal cancers.

Ask Me

You can communicate with me by putting up a comment into this blog or directly emailing me at zahari@perdana.kpjhealth.com.my. I will respond to your enquiry as a posting in this blog or directly to you. However my answers will be general in nature. Proper medical advices (consultations) need proper diagnosis - clinical examination, laboratory, radiological investigations etc. You are adviced to consult your surgeon.

As parts of my 'fight against late presentation of cancer among Malaysians' I am willing to give talks on cancer or any relevent topics to the public in gatherings such as school functions, seminars and workshops especially in and around Kota Bharu. Just contact me at the above email address